Almost time to get back into the swing of things!  We have exciting news to share. 

FUNDING and Team Support Awards, specifically Oregon Department of Education: FIRST Robotics Grant.
 
We’re also happy to announce that for the first time, ORTOP has been selected by the Oregon Department of Education to administer the ODE: FIRST Robotics Grant application and award process. ODE funds will be distributed through ORTOP using the standard team support application process, which is currently open. We hope this will make the process slightly easier and more efficient for teams who require assistance. Because the budget process took longer than expected this year, we are left with a very tight timeline to process the applications and awards. Please apply as early as possible to ensure you receive the most support possible for your team. There is over $200K in funds to be awarded across FLL, FTC and FRC.  

This means you can apply for the ODE funding and other ORTOP corporate giving team support awards using one common application for all teams in one school. This application is not meant to be filled out to cover multiple schools in a district.  One school per application per program.   This is different than the way ODE managed the grant last year. 
You can find out more information and begin the application process by going to the FIRST Tech Challenge Team Support Awards Information Page - CLICK HERE 
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MAKE FIRST LOUD opportunities  
We are looking for teams to volunteer to inform the public about FIRST at the following events. If your team or a few team members are available to volunteer, please email Cathy Swider cathy-swider(at)ortop(dot)org

• OREGON STATE FAIR - Wednesday, AUGUST 30th  
• PORTLAND MINI MAKER FAIRE (OMSI) - SEPTEMBER 16th or 17th
• OREGON INTERNATIONAL AIR SHOW (Hillsboro Airport) - SEPTEMBER 23rd or 24th 

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FIRST RELIC RECOVERY will soon be here.  Here is a checklist. 

______ Contacted team members, recruited new team members

______ Created a funding plan and started fundraising, applying for grants and awards

______ Read the FTC Oregon blog posts to catch up on the new stuff 

______ Started or completed updating your national team profile and paying for  NATIONAL REGISTRATION - CLICK HERE FOR LINK 

______ Established a meeting place, time or thought about it? 

______ Thinking about joining/staying in a league or going non-league. (next blog will have updates for league places, dates, times - we are still working on the logistics) 

______ Join  #SLACK or FTC Oregon to be up-to-date on team tech support and team strategy info

______ Dismiss all thoughts of getting Relic Recovery game details out of Cathy before Sept 9, 2017 at 9:00 am PDT. (However, it is a very interesting game. Put your Indiana Jones hats on, there is thinkin' to be done!)______ Make plans to attend RELIC RECOVERY KICK OFF on Sept 9, 2017 either in person or virtually. More info on Oregon locations and time in next post. 

SUMMER INTERNSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR
FIRST Team Members and Alumni - ages 16 - 24 living in Multnomah and Washington Counties, through WorkSystems.org - Summerworks program 

The position is for Cyber Security Researchers at Tripwire (in Portland).  (DO NOT CONTACT Tripwire directly)
Link to application through Summer Works 

The job description is pasted below:

***COMPLETION OF THE FIRST ROBOTICS PROGRAM IS A REQUIREMENT FOR THIS POSITION*****

Summary of essential job functions

As a Security Research Intern you will be doing research into defending against cyber security attacks. As such, you will learn how to:

• Build a virtualized computer lab

• Obtain and use offensive cyber security tools

• Obtain and use defensive cyber security tools

• Apply this learning to different situations such as online research, capture the flag program, responses to media events

• Design and implement new ways to detect and defend against cyber attacks

Minimum requirements

• ANY CANDIDATE MUST BE A CURRENT PARTICIPANT IN THE FIRST ROBOTICS PROGRAM

• COMPLETION OF ATTACHED SCREENING QUESTIONS

• Willingness to learn, the ability to do online (internet) research and apply what has been learned to technical solutions. 

• Problem solving, critical thinking and the ability to think outside of the box.

• Comfortable working with technology.

Preferences

This position is a technical internship and will involve working with computers and applications, both through a gui and command line. Experience of installing and configuring computers will be a benefit. Experience of basic computer networking will be a benefit.